Archers paradox?
 

I've seen this term a few times now. What exactly is archers paradox?

RE: Archers paradox?
 

The flexing that an arrow goes through upon and after release.

In the "old" days (that was for you, Arthur :) ), when long bows and other non-center cut style risers were prevalant, at full draw the arrow was actually pointing left of the point of aim. At release, the arrow had to flex, and this instant bend allowed it to be shot around the riser, with minimal contact, then back in line with the point of aim.

RE: Archers paradox?
 

Old days, my eye! [>:]

[8D]

If a picture is worth a thousand words, so a video must be priceless. If you want to see what paradox is clickHERE.

RE: Archers paradox?
 

Thanks Rangeball & Arthur.

Arthur, thanks for that video link. I never realized that the arrow moves like that when shot! I knew it flexed some, but that sucker looks like a fish swimming upstream when it's first released.

RE: Archers paradox?
 

When I first saw a slo-mo video of someone shooting an arrow, I was awed. It seems like a miracle that anyone could ever hit anything with an arrow that's doing all that stuff.[:-]

Of course, the thing people are doing these days is trying to eliminate paradox by shooting dropaway rests at true centershot and stiff arrows with releases. Makes sense in one way, to maximize speed and energy, but a large part of my being revolts at the idea of trying to do away with one of the 'great mysteries' of archery.;)

RE: Archers paradox?
 

What's also amazing is that the arrows last more than one shot. [:o]